Before the Covid 19 pandemic, most businesses and corporations were already very familiar with the term “Video Interview Software”. In a 2019 HR report by Hiring Thing, 60% of surveyed businesses in the US alone have employed video interview for talent search. The arrival of the pandemic only serves to increase the use of digitized interviews in talent recruitment. For instance, tech giants like Google or Facebook have been slowly switching to Video Interviews to enroll new employees. For Facebook, even equipment is sent through the mail to accepted candidates to prepare for work.

If you are still wondering whether to adopt Video Interview Software to your business, here are both sides of the coin when it comes to using video interview for recruitment.

Speed-up the Screening Process

A key benefit of adopting video interview software is the amount of time saved. VidCruiter discovered that: using live video interviews, a company can reduce its time to hire by 10% to 80%. This new form of recruitment saves time by removing requirements often found in a face-to-face session. Checking multiple submissions at a time is also possible with the help of program-sorting and AI. Let’s put this into perspective by comparing Video Interview with one of the fastest interview methods in the past centuries – Phone Interview.

Lower the Cost

Although making a call is simple, the interviewer still has to arrange the time to make the call. Why struggle with arranging schedules when the candidates can send you their answers through pre-recorded videos? Do you know that most hiring decisions come after 5 to 15 minutes into the interview? This seems to be the case according to Workopolis. In a phone call or traditional interview, even if you have made your choice, you still have to finish the session. With video interviews, one can simply pause and move on Hosting an in-person interview can be costly: the venue and staff, even the bowl of candies all cost money - your money. With video interviews, there is no need for a venue or any related services. Video interviews can reduce the cost up to 67% for both business and candidates according to Launchpad. Making a wrong hire can be costly for a company. Hiring a bad employee can reportedly cost up to $240.000, as stated by Undercover Recruiter. However, video interviews can help soften this potential loss. With the ability to collect and review many videos, you can quickly replace wrong hires, and at the same time, avoid costly traditional interviews.

Prevent Unfair Treatments

Biased practices in recruitment are still an on-going concern for both HR managers and candidates. In the 2019 statistics report by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, there was a total of 72,675 charges of unfair treatment in 2019. So how Video Interviews Apps can help to reduce this number in the coming years?

Through Transparency and Consistency

Discrimination is most noticeable verbally; It could be a passing remark or inappropriate words. For both live and pre-recorded interviews, every spoken word will be recorded for future review. Furthermore, the manner, tone, and experience in these videos can be used for quality control and training purposes.

By Protecting Candidates’ Privacy

During a normal interview, the interviewer controls the session through their questions. By limiting the number of random questions, video interviews make sure the discussion stays on course. Potential sensitive topics, therefore, are also less likely to appear thanks to the fast-paced nature of such interviews. For further information on workplace diversity and inclusion, have a read through Rakuna’s latest report.

Expand your Candidate Pool

Across a Vast Distance

Having a diverse candidate pool is vital for a business’s ability to innovate. Video interview software can help your business to reach international candidates. With the recent social distancing policy, many companies are letting their employees to completely work off-site “forever”. Companies such as Twitter, Square, and Shopify have all announced the big news. This is a perfect opportunity to adopt an international workforce. Your employees from different continents can still attend meetings, all from the comfort of their home.

Through Diversity and Inclusion

This new recruitment method can also attract applicants that share a dislike for in-person interviews. According to a 2020 research survey published in the BMC Medical Research Methodology Journal, 85% of the participants choose video chat as their preferred interview form. Additionally, in this pool of 85%, there are people with notable characteristics such as non-traditional sexual orientation, facial flaws, or just shyness. Thanks to the consistency of technology, video interview software can promote inclusion by giving candidates a safe space where they will not feel judged or lesser due to their traits.

By Appealing to both the Young and Old Generation

In a 2020 millennial survey by Deloitte, over 65% of both gen Z and millennial individuals react positively with the idea of working from home. These generations were introduced to technology very early in life and are more accepting of new inventions. By adopting video interviews, your business can gain the attention of these young and innovative generations. The key is to appeal to the need for automation, flexibility, and quick results. However, one should not forget about the older generation such as Gen X. A recent survey conducted by Korn Ferry reveals that older candidates can also adapt to video interviews. Some Gen Xs can even create videos as skillful as their younger peers. Additionally, Generation X candidates are likely to have a family, allowing them to remain in contact with new technology through their children.

For the Candidates: Eliminate the Stress of Traveling

For many people, the trip to a job interview can be very stressful. A traffic jam on the way can cause nervousness and affect how a candidate performs during the interview. Video interview software can help to eliminate the need to travel, along with any related uncertainty. With the stress of being on time lessened, candidates can be in their top conditions and preparedness.

Potential Nuisances when Using Video Interview Software

Interruptions caused by technology failures can be serious to a business. For instance, in a recent survey by PEW Research Center, 49% of adult Americans said interruption to the internet or cell phone service is very troublesome during the Covid19 Pandemic. However, as in the case of any new technologies, your business is likely to run into a few problems handling video interview software. So what are these problems and how to overcome them?

Connectivity Problems

Having an unstable connection in a live interview or a low-quality video can be extremely frustrating. The source of these problems lies in your internet connectivity. A low bandwidth connection can cause delays during a live interview or reduce the video’s quality. Connectivity issues have been a common problem ever since the invention of video streaming. The most common advice offered by sites such as Zoom, Skype, or Facebook is to switch from Wi-Fi to cable connection. A cable connection can offer far greater stability. Users are also advised to close any internet-intensive sites or programs like Youtube for a more stable connection.

Camera Stress

Similar to in-person interviews, video interviews can be equally stressful. Shyness, or being unfamiliar with new technology can unnerve both interviewers and interviewees alike. It is strongly recommended that both parties do a “trial run” about 5-10 minutes before the real session. It can help participants to get ready and reduce any potential technical problems.

Conclusion

Through its innovative nature and the necessity created by the Covid 19 Pandemic, video interview software is set to become one of the biggest HR trends in the coming years. The theme for the future is clear: speed, flexibility, and reliability. This is now the time for you to experience the next step in talent recruitment. If trend-setter giants like Facebook, Google, and Twitter have already done it, why don’t you? For other Post-Covid19 rising HR trends: Visit Rakuna’s latest report.

This blog post originally appear on Rakuna's blog